Wages and profits are up again in the English Premier League, but it lags behind Germany’s Bundesliga in terms of profitability, a study by accountants Deloitte showed Thursday.

Manchester United, fresh from winning another domestic title and the European Champions League, is the richest club in Britain with record operating profits of 66 million pounds (84 million euros, 130 million dollars).

But the Premier League’s hefty wage bill of 942 million pounds — which rose 13 percent in the 2006-2007 season — limited its collective profit to 94 million pounds.

Germany captain Michael Ballack said on Thursday he is confident his side can reach the Euro 2008 knock-out stages and will be in form for Saturday’s final warm-up with Serbia.

Germany were held 2-2 by minnows Belarus on Tuesday night and Ballack says while intensive training in Mallorca had taken its toll, the side will be stronger when they open their Euro 2008 campaign against Poland on June 8.

Joachim Loew’s side play their final warm-up game against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

An early goal by Maciej Zurawski gave Euro 2008 finalists Poland a 1-0 win over Albania here on Tuesday.

The former Celtic striker struck in the third minute as the Poles put in a more impressive display than they had done on Monday in a 1-1 draw with Macedonia, albeit with a second string side.

Poland’s veteran Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker also handed a debut to Brazilian-born naturalised Pole Roger Guerreiro, though, the Legia Warsaw marksman failed to get off the mark.

Greek First Division side OFI Crete appointed seasoned Czech coach Frantisek Straka on Tuesday on a one year contract it was announced by the Czech Football Federation (CMFS).

The 50-year-old former Czechoslovakian international - who was part of the side that reached the last eight of the 1990 World Cup finals where they were beaten by eventual champions West Germany - said he was looking forward to the experience.

“It is going to be a new and interesting experience, in the country who are presently the European champions” said Straka, who was capped 35 times between 1983 and 1990.

Chelsea received a double blow in their search for a successor to Avram Grant on Monday as Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini and Russia coach Guus Hiddink both denied they want the Stamford Bridge job.

Mancini, who has just led Inter to a third successive Serie A title, has been heavily linked with the Premier League club for several months and that speculation increased after Grant’s sacking on Saturday.

But the Italian’s agent insisted he has had no contact with Chelsea and would not be instigating talks because Mancini wants to stay at the San Siro.

David Bentley has warned David Beckham he is determined to end his England career.

The Blackburn Rovers winger will go head-to-head with Beckham for a place in manager Fabio Capello’s midfield for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in September.

Both players will be granted chances to stake their claim in England’s end-of-season friendlies against the United States at Wembley on Wednesday and Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on Sunday.

Bentley, 23, has age on his side - Beckham is 10 years older - and is also better placed to impress Capello since the ex-Manchester United star’s departure for Major League Soccer.

Japan struggled past understrength Ivory Coast 1-0 here Saturday, giving a morale boost to their comeback World Cup qualifying campaign.

Nagoya striker Keiji Tamada volleyed home a left cross from Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe on the break in the 21st minute, in a sliding left-foot shot through goalkeeper Aristide Benoit Zogbo’s legs.

Japan are to meet Paraguay in Saitama on Tuesday in the final match of the three-nation Kirin Cup. Ivory Coast and Paraguay drew 1-1 in Yokohama on Wednesday.